KC Royals spring training games officially begin on Sunday, as they visit the Texas Rangers (well, they share the same facility). Their last game in Arizona will be Sunday, April 1st at the Seattle Mariners.

The Royals then face the SD Padres in exhibition games, one Tuesday April 3rd at Petco Park and the other on Wednesday April 4th at Lake Elsinore (the Padres High-A affiliate).

• MLB Network will be airing six Royals games, though only three will be live. Five of the six games are road games.
• 16 games will be broadcast on 610 Sports Radio (four more are to be added once the NCAA Tournament schedule is released).
• The Fox Sports Kansas City team will kick off their coverage on Friday, March 30th. They will also broadcast the April 3rd exhibition game (which will also be re-aired on MLB Network at 12am).
• All spring training games will be webcast on royals.com (not sure what that means, but we will find out on Sunday).

*Here is the Royals Cactus League schedule (ss=split squad):

Wednesday, March 7th vs. Chicago Cubs 1:05pm MST (610 Sports Radio)

This is going to be a post that may be a little all over the place, but it will cover KC Royals news over the last week or so. It also means that it will be long. You have been warned.

*Eric Hosmer appeared on MLB Network’s Intentional Talk last week with Chris Rose and Dan Plesac. He was a bit overdressed in a suit, but his personality fit right in. You can check out the video clip HERE and relive his first big league homerun and his mom’s reaction and see an old school pic of Hos in his younger baseball years.

*Hosmer was also a guest on Hot Stove and you can check out that video HERE. He sat down with Matt Yallof and Mitch Williams and talked about how he got the call to the big leagues.

*When you think of Hos, you may not think to include him in the same sentence as Miami Marlins outfielder Logan Morrison. Well, now you will. While at MLB Network studios, Hos teamed up with LoMo to produce a MLB Fan Cave entry video.

*If you are addicted to MLB Network like I am, then you know that they are currently airing a “Top Ten Right Now” segment for each position. Closer Joakim Soria ranked tenth in the top reliever category. I was disappointed that Jeff Francoeur didn’t rank in the top ten for right fielders. I mean, Corey Hart and Hunter Pence ranked higher?

*In my final MLB Network plug, they posted a Facebook poll, asking which American League first baseman would be voted in as the starter for the 2012 All-Star Game in Kansas City. The candidates were Prince Fielder, Adrian Gonzalez, Albert Pujols, and Hosmer. Pujols ran away with the vote, but Hosmer received just 4% of the vote. Hopefully, Hos can gain more support come midseason.

» Continue reading “Royals News and Notes”

If you are anything like me, then you probably watch MLB Network religiously. I love Intentional Talk with hosts Chris Rose and Kevin Millar because well, it’s funny. And the guests they have on are great. How can you not love Heath Bell and Jonny Gomes jumping into their pools on live TV?

Anyway, now that the regular season is over and the offseason is in full swing, they have a segment called “Got Team” where they ask three questions of a specific team (like 30 Clubs in 30 Days).

Thursday’s edition was based on the KC Royals. Former big league veteran Al Leiter was filling in for Millar (who is again on vacation).

First question: When will you know the Royals have arrived?

Leiter: They’ll be better. They’re getting closer. A .500 season would be great. He hasn’t been sold on the Royals yet, but what he did know was that Eric Hosmer would be an All-Star.

Rose: This is the year to finish in second place. Outside of the Tigers, it’s anyone’s game.

Second question: Over/under on Royals All-Stars? (1.5)

Leiter: Over. He’s going with Alex Gordon and Hosmer.

Rose: Over. He believes that Joakim Soria will bounce back and that Hosmer will finish in the top five in batting in the American League. He even said the Royals will get “at least” two representatives.

Third question: More problems with the Royals grounds crew? (The Royals were prone to having tarp pulling snafus.)

Leiter: Don’t they have George Toma?

Rose: Yeah, he’s a Hall of Famer…We’re watching.

*I will link to the video when I find one available.

**I’m just paraphrasing the Q&A; not actual quotes.

UPDATE: Click HERE for the video from last night edition of “Got Team: Royals” on Intentional Talk.

Last night on MLB Network’s Hot Stove, Harold Reynolds and Dan Plesac discussed each Major League Baseball division. They talked about whether or not the division got better, worse, or the same after this offseason so far.

Well, both agreed that the American League Central is worse off than last year, and Reynolds even went on to say that the AL Central is the worst league in baseball. In summary, he said:

• The Minnesota Twins were terrible last year and haven’t made any moves to get better.
• The Chicago White Sox lost Mark Buehrle and traded away Sergio Santos. They don’t seem to know what they are doing (are they rebuilding or not?). That and they weren’t very good last year.
• The Cleveland Indians were scuffling. They haven’t really changed their team, but they did contend for most of the season.
• The Detroit Tigers have separated themselves from the rest of the division. They are the elite team.

As he was talking, I was thinking, what about the KC Royals? Then he said it:

The Royals are my surprise team in the division.

Well guys, there is the target on your backs.

KC Royals reliever Tim Collins joined MLB Network’s Intentional Talk on Thursday. He joined them live from his gym in Massachusetts. He showed hosts Chris Rose and Sean Casey (along with the audience) the jerseys displayed at the gym, which included two of his own (his Royals and Team USA jerseys). Some may be surprised by the “Magnuson” jersey, but not anyone who is a fan of the New Hampshire FisherCats or Collins himself (they were roommates).

He showed off the “Question of the Day” board with the day’s question of which superpower would you rather have, be invisible or be able to fly? Collins chose being invisible. He also gave a quick tour of the gym.

Collins talked about his love of the Boston Red Sox and Kevin Millar. He also talked about taking the mound at Fenway Park for the first time this season as a Royal. They even showed highlights of his first appearance.

You have to love the winter beard he has going on. Check out the end of his interview, as he jumps to touch his head on the ceiling.

*I know I’m a dork and taped my TV, but I have problems getting videos other than YouTube to work on here and I wanted to share it with you. Sorry for the tapping sounds. My camera was making weird noises because the battery was about to run out.

Via the Royals on Twitter

Aaron Crow being interviewed during BP by the guys from MLB Network

Well, there isn’t a whole lot to be recapped considering the KC Royals had just one representative for the MLB All-Star Game. That one man was rookie reliever Aaron Crow. Crow was one of 18 players on the American League squad that attended their first ever MLB All-Star Game (a total of 34 first-timers). Check out the MLB.com article on Crow from media day, along with video. I didn’t see Crow on the red carpet show, as the All-Stars arrived via the Chevy trucks. You can also check out video of Crow’s interview after BP on Monday night.

Detroit Tigers pitcher Justin Verlander may have gained some Royals fans after his good deed on Sunday. Verlander had a private plane to take him and some of his Tigers teammates to Phoenix for the All-Star Game following Sunday afternoon’s game in KC. Verlander offered a ride to the first-time All-Star Crow, which he gladly accepted. Verlander told Adam Holt of MLB.com:

“Tides turn and I’m able to take care of some guys now, so I figured it would be a great opportunity to do it,” Verlander said. “I’ve never forgotten those times — the first time being on a private plane going to the All-Star Game is an experience. Just to make some guys happy is something nice to be able to do.”

Yes I took a pic of Crow from my TV

American League manager Ron Washington answered a question at media day on Monday about why he chose Crow over outfielder Alex Gordon. Washington said that the fans and players had already selected the outfielders for the game and when he came to selecting the lone Royals representative, he needed pitching. He did however believe Gordon deserved a shot at being named to the All-Star team and that is why he chose him as one of the five players in the Final Vote. Washington did talk about the use of middle relievers, but he only mentioned the use of NY Yankees reliever David Robertson.

MLB wanted to completely delve into the social media world with  players being encouraged to tweet during the HR Derby on Monday night. They even set up tables for the players to sit at computers during the Derby to tweet. Well, Twitter crashed during the HR Derby, which may have led to some nonexistent tweeting (Texas Rangers pitcher CJ Wilson said he was having reception problems inside Chase Field). I was disappointed that Crow didn’t join in the tweeting, being it was his first time at the All-Star Game. I would have liked to hear his perspective of everything, from media day to BP to the HR Derby. It would have been nice considering the Royals have a few big league players on Twitter, but they don’t actually tweet. The only time they’ve tweeted recently was to encourage fans to vote for Gordon.

via MLB Network

For me, my favorite moments of the All-Star game festivities are the red carpet show (because you get to see the players and their families parade around the host city) and the introductions of all the players (because this could be the only time to see your favorite players if he doesn’t play). I also like the Future’s Game, but I covered that earlier. My favorite red carpet moment was back in 2009 in St. Louis when Pittsburgh Pirates second baseman Freddy Sanchez paraded around with his family. His little boys looked just like him (adorable), complete with spiked black hair.

So on to the game. You saw in one of the above pictures, Crow waving to the Phoenix crowd (via a TV shot). That was all that we would see of Crow as he was not called on to pitch for the AL (I’m highly disappointed). The National League took the win as Milwaukee Brewers first baseman Prince Fielder hit a three-run homerun off the Texas Rangers CJ Wilson in the bottom  of the 4th inning (after Boston Red Sox first baseman Adrian Gonzalez hit a solo homerun off Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Cliff Lee in the top of the inning).

*My favorite moment of Monday’s MLB All-Star BP session was when Harold Reynolds of MLB Network began his interview with Cincinnati Reds third baseman Scott Rolen. Now Rolen was selected by NL manager Bruce Bochy since both selected third baseman, Placido Polanco and Chipper Jones, pulled out due to injury. Then former big leaguer, and Intentional Talk host, Kevin Millar jumped in and the interview got crazy. People don’t realize how funny (and a dry type of funny) Rolen is.

Millar got on him about not letting him know that he was going to the All-Star Game. “I’m hitting .241…five homeruns at the break…I got hit by a pitch to drive in my only run in Milwaukee.” Rolen said. By looking at him, you could tell how sarcastic he was being. Then he came back with, “I got hot. I went 0-for-3 instead of 0-for-5 to keep my average above .240.” Then Rolen started getting on Millar. “Why do you have makeup on…and highlights. You’re 40. You have four kids.” Millar didn’t have a good comeback.

MLB Network made sure to say that Rolen and Millar are indeed friends.

It was a busy Tuesday for Royals rookie left-hander Tim Collins. He began his day visiting the MLB Fan Cave with fellow Royals Bruce Chen and Eric Hosmer. At night, he pitched two shutout innings against the NY Yankees. He followed that up with a visit to MLB Network studios and an appearance on MLB Tonight.

Collins last year with the FisherCats before his whirlwind second half.

Dan Plesac of MLB Network, who always seems to be drinking the Royals Kool-Aid, calls Collins “a little stick of dynamite.” Ken Rosenthal is deemed his biggest fan (though I know of a few who may be bigger fans).

When Collins was introduced in Studio 42, it was as the shortest player in the game. The three analysts stood up to show Collins short stature. Right now he is listed at 5’7, and I believe that’s true (I met him last year and looked right into his eyes and I’m 5’7). He was just 4’9 as a freshman in high school and played the outfield his first two years. He didn’t begin pitching until his junior year.

“Been told I’m not ever going to make it…I take that with me every time I take the mound,” Collins said in regards to his short stature and the critics.

The guys of MLB Tonight asked him about pitching at Yankee Stadium last night: “Be aggressive. I was really amped up.” Big crowd on hand and well, it was the Yankees.

They also asked him about warming up in the Yankees Stadium bullpen: “I didn’t get any heckling. I was really surprised.” Yankee fans are known to pester the opposing team’s bullpen.

They talked about the surprising start for the Royals and what it has been like in the clubhouse. Collins said “the atmosphere in the clubhouse has been outstanding.”

Collins has made 20 appearances so far this season (the Royals have played 35 games). What has made him so resilient? “I’m a big long toss guy, but I’ve had to shut it down a little bit.”

The guys of MLB Tonight asked Collins for his take on the Royals and their future. In three years, “I think they’re [Royals] going to be unbelievable.”

On Mike Moustakas: “Moustakas is unbelievable. He’s got the quickest hands I’ve ever seen.”

On John Lamb: “John Lamb is electric.” They were long toss partners throughout spring training.

Yes I took a pic of my TV of Tim's mechanics

Collins also showed off his pitching mechanics in a Diamond Demo. He brings his leg above his head which gives him momentum (it was never really the plan to bring it that high up). He hides the ball so well that hitters can’t pick it up until he just about releases it.

Collins was in studio during a live look-in of the SF Giants game in which Tim Lincecum was pitching. Collins admitted he’s a “huge fan of Lincecum, but not of the hair right now.” He also absolutely disagrees with Lincecum being listed as 5’11. Collins knows guys who played Lincecum in college and they said he’s not over 5’8.

When asked who he looked up to, Collins was quick to answer with “Billy Wagner.” He was an inspiration to Collins.

When Collins takes the mound every night, the goal and mindset is “to get those guys out.”

A pic of Tim in the studio (sorry my TV isn't the best)

Last night’s Royals game was delayed for more than 40 minutes and eventually called after 8 innings. It seems like every time you turn around, something happens during a tarp pull. Remember when the Phillies helped the Colorado Rockies grounds crew put the tarp on as the wind kept whipping it around?

Last night at Kauffman Stadium was no different.

Check out this video of the poor guy getting run over by the tarp (and his co-workers who pushed it over him): Tarp Pull

*Oh and check out Jeff Francoeur tonight at 5pm (est) on MLB Network’s Intentional Talk with Kevin Millar and Chris Rose. It’ll be sure to make you laugh with those two as hosts.